Process of and means for photographing films.



C. L. SUDVIANN.

PROCESS 0F AND MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING FILMS'.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAY 29, IsI.

1,198,600. Pafenfedsept. 19,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

PROCESS 0.5 AND MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1916.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNE 1".

C. L. SUDIVIANN.

PROCESS 0F AND MEANS FOR PHOTQGRAPHING FILMS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29|ISIS.

A l ,1 98,600. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

C. L. SUDMANN.

PROCESS 0F AND MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING FILMS.

-APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1916.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- IJv'VENToR. C :Sanna/wv ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.CHARLES L. SUDMANN, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO ACORN MOVIE CARTOONCOMPANY, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

PROCESS OF AND MEANS FOR PHOTOGRAPI-IING FILMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 19, 191e.

Application led May 29, 1916. Serial No. 100,743.

State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProcesses of and'Means for Photographing Films, of which the followingis a specification.

In photographing drawings for producinganimated cartoon moving picturefilms the element of light plays a very important part.

In'taking moving pictures on a cinematograph film from drawings, Ihavefound that a transparent background placed over or in front of alight, produces a very pleasing effect when combined with a separatedrawing on a transparent medium and a second light; the separate drawingbeing -fsuperimposed on the transparent background drawing and bothdrawings being interposed between the lights. Where it is desired todepict the background in subdued tones and shades and show the animatedor moving objects in contrast thereto,

without making numerous drawings and underlays, the result may bereadily and efficiently attained by the proper disposition of the raysof light with relation to the drawings and the cinematograph camera;

however proper drawings are essential.

My invention contemplatesx cinematographic photography in which asubstantially transparent background is used in conjunction with atransparent medium on which movable objects are portrayed, the latterbeing positioned on or in front of the former. rlhe background drawingsand the drawings of the movable objects are interposed between twolights so that the rays from one light are cast upon the rear side ofthe background drawing and the rays of the other light are cast upon theobject bearing medium so as to penetrate the same, saidlights beingarranged so as not to interfere with the photographing lens.

It is highly-important that the under or rear light which illuminatesthe background be diffused so that the illumination of the light wherebythe rays of the latter will be spread and the glass uniformlyilluminated over its entire area. Another embodlment would include themaking of the background on translucent or semi-opaque material whichwould diffuse the light.

The pictures thus produced show the movable objects in strong contrastto the background and stand out in bas-relief. By painting and dra-wingthe parts of the background in various shades and tones it is notnecessary to use underlays or separate sheets of tone or shade producingInateials. F rom a mechanical standpoint much time can be saved andbetter registration obtained by drawing or painting the backgrounds lintheir successive order on a strip of transparent or translucentmaterial, and drawing or painting the movable objects in theirsuccessive order on a separate strip in such a manner that the twostrips may be moved across each other at right angles; the panel attheir intersection producing the complete picture or Scene to bephotographed and the successive pictures or scenes being produced bymoving one of the strips across the other, as the case may be. Anegative, positive or glass plate bearing the background may be used inlieu of the background strip.

AS an example, in carrying out the invention, a positive plate bearingin appearance a wash drawing depicting a rural background scene isprovided. An apparatus comprising a table with an opening and a lightunder the opening is arranged with a second light above the opening. Acamera support is included in the apparatus and arranged above thesecond light. J rlhe positive plate is placed over the opening so thatthe under or first light will project its rays against and through theplate, while the upper or second light will also cast its rays upon andthrough the plate. The camera is adjusted at the proper focal distancefrom the plate and a strip of trans parent material on which the movableobjects are portrayed is drawn over the plate. For instance a man may bedrawn on the strip, first drawing showing him walking with the rightfoot in advance, Vthe next drawing showing him with the left foot inadvance. `With these two drawings on the upper strip and the backgroundplate the man may be photographed in all Athe successive positionsassumed in walking entirely across the background scene.

The strip 1s positioned over the plate with the drawing of the man withhis right foot in advance and the scene photographed. The strip is neXtmoved'forward to bring the drawing with the left foot in advance overthe plate, but in an advanced position in accordance with a registermark previously made on the strip, and the photographing carried out.The strip is now moved backward to bring the first drawing over theplate in an advanced position, whereby the man is photographed taking astep with the right foot in advance. rIhis may be continued by movingthe strip back and forth until all the positions are photographed.However the successive positions of the object may be depicted in anumber of sequent drawings on the strip and the latter moved forwardonly.

The rays of light from the under light will illuminate the backgroundplate andthe upper light co-acting therewith will render the stripclearly transparent and furnish the light for photographing, whereby thebackground will be photographed through the strip and will not be asstrong or as prominent as the object shown on the strip, but the shadesand tones of the background will contrast one with the other, accordingto its particular. density and the degree to which it opaques the raysfrom the under light. Of course instead of using the positive'plate atransparent strip or other medium couldA be used.

The drawings being interposed between the lights will be more clearlyphotographed and while the background will be presented in subdued tonesit will be dened and in no wav obscured as the upper light willobliterate the weave of the upper drawing bearing medium as well as anyfalse shadows. In fact the effect obtained by interposing the drawingsbetween the lights is substantiallyT suspending the lines and washes ofthe actual drawings before the camera and entirely eliminating anyvisible support, such as the cloth or paper on which the drawings aresupported or drawn; and at the same time neutralizing the under light sothat it does not project its rays into the lens of the camera.

For carrying out this method of photography I have designed anapparatus. comprising a table with an upright support rising from thesame. In the central portion of the table an opening is' provided andcovered with a piece of translucent material, as ground glass; anelectric lamp being arranged under the glass. Drums and shafts aremounted under the table which is provided with slots through which thestrips may be fed from the drums and drawn over the glass. Over thetable a second electric lamp is supported so as to cast its rays downupon the strips or drawing bearing mediums. On the support an adjustablecamera carrier is mounted so that the camera may be fastened thereonwith its lens and shutter over the glass. By adjusting the carrier andthe upper lamp the camera may be brought to the proper focal point; saidupper lamp must not cast its ray into the lens. It is to be understoodthat various other structures may be evolved for carrying out thisprocess.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of thefollowing specification and the invention may be more readily understoodby reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus for photographing thedrawings, Fig. 2 is a plan View, portions being illustrated in sectionand others as partially omitted, F ig. 3 is a transverse sectional Viewthrough the table. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus showing thecamera and upper light in position, Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view ofthe electrical circuit employed, F ig. G is a sectional detail of thecarrier latch, F ig. 7 is a detail in perspective showing thetransparent strip imposed on the positive plate, and F ig. 8 is asimilar view showing the two strips crossed and producing a scene attheir intersection.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates a table which is supported onleg 2. At each side of the central portion of the table uprights 3 riseand are connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 4, formingtherewith a vertical frame. rIhe table has a top 5 and a bottom G, acabinet being formed therebetween. Vertical division plates 7 extendfrom front to rear of the table on each side of the center and betweenthe top and bottom. rIhe top is divided into sections separated by acentral panel which has a central hinged section or door 8. rlhesections of the top may be suitably hinged and the panel has itslongitudinal edges contiguous to the plates 7.

Between the plates and under the door a cylindrical lamp casing 9 isarranged and provided with a reflector bottom 10 in the center of whichan incandescent lamp 11 is mounted. The door has a central opening inwhich a piece of ground glass or other translucent material 12 ismounted; this plate becoming the field on which the pictures areexposed. It will be seen that the rays from the lamp 11 are directedupward through the glass. On each side of the division plates and underthe top sections, drums 14 are mounted in brackets 13 on shafts 15;while between the plates and transversely of the table similar drums 16are carried 'on shafts 17 mounted in brackets 18. Each shaft has a bevelgear 19 on one end in position to mesh with a similar gear 2O on the endof a vertical shaft 21 carrying a hand wheel 22 on its upper end whichat the front and rear sides of the door and transversely of the table.In the drawings I have shown a strip A wound on one of thel drums 14"andpassed up through adjacent slot 23, across the glass 12, down throughthe other slot 23 and wound around the other drum 14. A strip B wound onthe forward drum 16 is passed up through the adjacent slot 24, across todoor and over the strip A, then 'down through the other slot 24 andwound around the rear drum 16. The rear side of the table is recessed at25 to .permit the operator to occupy a` position close to his work.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the mov able objects are drawn on thetop strip B and as shown in Fig. 8 the backgrounds are drawn on theunder strip A. 'In Fig. 7 a glass plate C isy shown instead of the stripA. In'the other figures of the drawings I have not shown any scenes onthe strips as the same would be confusing, but it is to be understoodthat the strips are the same through-out the drawings. In winding thestrips on the drums it is more convenient for the operator that they beso wound and threaded through the slots that the strip 'A is moved fromfront to rear and the strip B from left to right .by the operator whenmaking the registrations.

Some distance above the table top 5 a transverse bar 26 extends betweenthe uprights 3 and from this bar a pair of channel members 27 extendvertically to the top bar 4. These members are spacedapart and placed atthe center of the vertical frame and receive a slidable carrier 28connected to one end of a flexible connection 29. The connection 29 ispassed up over a pulley 30 suspended from the bar 4 and fastened about acleat 31 on one of the uprights. r1`he carrier may be raised and loweredby this connection. The front inner edge of each member 27 is providedwith teeth and a double spring latch 32 is mounted on the upper end ofthe carrier so as to engage said teeth and support the carrier at thedifferent elevations to which it is adjusted, a detail of the latchbeing given in Fig. 6. The car? rier is designed to support acinematograph camera D which may be fastened thereto in any suitablemanner as by screw clamps like that shown at 33 in Fig. 4. The parts ares0 arranged that the camera will be supported with its lenses downwardand their centers directly over the center ofthe glasscamera may be.positioned at the proper focal distance to photograph only the panelformed by the intersection of the two strips. The under or lower lamp 11will illuminate the strips from the under sides, but the glass beingtranslucent will prevent the casting of rays into the lenses of thecamera. A second or upper lamp 34 is mounted over the table. I havefound that a lamp of the mercury-vapor type which gives 0H ultra-violetrays, is the most satisfactory for the upper light, although it is notessential. The lamp 34 is of this type and is supported by flexibleconnections 35 from brackets 36 fastened on the uprights 3. It isimportant that the rays from this lamp do not refiect or projectdirectly into the lenses of the camera. and therefore the lens barrel isprojected beF tween and below the elements of the lamp 34 as shown inFig. 1.

For supplying current to the electrical elements a main switch 40 ismounted on one of the uprights and has electrical connection with acircuit switch 42 for the circuit of the upper lamp and also with aswitch 43 for the circuitv of the lower lamp. A diagram of the circuitsis shown in Fig. 5. Wires 44 lead from the switch 42to the lamp 34, anauxiliary for said lamp being connected in series with said wires. Wires41 vlead from the switch 43 tothe lamp 11. In Fig. 1 the wires are notshown, but a conduit in which the same are carried is indicated.

In photographing or exposing the drawings before the camera the understrip A bearing the background drawings is positioned by turning one-ofthe hand-wheels 22, so as to bring a background into register with thefield formed by the glass 12. r1`he strip B is now manipulated to -bringthe first object drawing over the background, the panel formed at theintersection of the two strips producingthe picture or scene to bephotographed. The strips may be moved ahead or back and forth accordingto the scene desired. Where the glass plate back-ground C is used it isto be understood that other plates bearing different backgrounds aresubstituted instead of a continuous plate or strip.

In Figs. 7 and 8 two methods of producing the scenes or pictures areshown. In Fig. 7 the background is produced on a positive plate C andthe strip B is placed` thereover. A rural scene is depicted by thebackgroud and the figure of a man walking is shown in two positions onthe strip B. The strip is adjusted so that the first drawing willregister with the background. the man being shown with the right foot inadvance. The panel thus formed by the intersection of the plate and thestrip is photographed, several exposures being necessary to give thescene visibility when the film is projected on the screen. The strip isnext advanced to bring the next drawing over the plate and the exposuresmade. By providing sufficient slack in the strip and using the properregister marks, said strip may now be moved back to the first drawingand adjusted to show the man in the next succeeding position of walking.After the eX- posures are made the strip can be moved to again bring thesecond drawing over the plate and so on until the picture is completed.

The rays of light from the under lamp will be subdued by the groundglass l2 and 4while suflicient light will be furnished to penetrate andilluminate the background, no reflection will be cast into the lenses-ofthe camera. The rays from the upper lamp will blend with theillumination furnished with the under lamp, but said upper rays whilepenetrating the strip B and plate C will be absorbed by the ground glassplate l2. lllhe under lamp will illuminate the background and give thedifferent tone and shade effects to the different portions of thebackground; while the upper light will render both the strip and thepositive plate C highly transparent. However the drawings of the objectsbeing on the upper surface of the strip, will photograph more clearlyand distinctly than the background and will thus stand out in contrastthereto. lt is necessary of course to opaque that portion of the stripwithin the outline of each object drawing and this may be done either onthe top side or under side of the strip, both methods being commonknowledge in the photoengraving art.

ln Fig. 8 l have shown a strip A depicting several backgrounds and thestrip B showing the ligure of a man and an air ship. lt is quite obvioushow the different backgrounds may be brought over the glass 1Q. Thestrip B has been moved to bring the second drawing into register' withthe background, the drawing being also shown. lt is apparent that theobjects or figures to be used with the other background scenes may bedrawn in their proper successive order on the strip B.`In this form thestrip B is moved in one direction only unless it is desired to duplicatea scene, when the strip may be moved back to produce said scene. As anillustration of the tone and shade effects it is pointed out that inFig. 8 the trees in the rural scene may be made less transparent thanthe hills and therefore the under light will not illuminate the trees tothe same degree as the hills, as the rays of light will not penetratethe trees as readily as the hills.

lVhat I claim, is:

l. The process of photographing moving picture drawings which includessupporting a background drawing and a superimposed transparent memberbearing a complementary drawing before a camera, illuminating saiddrawings from the rear by a uniformly dilfused light, and photographingsaid drawings.

2. The process of photographing moving picture drawings which consistsin supporting a background drawing and a superimposed transparent memberbearing a complementary drawing before a camera, illuminating saiddrawings from the rear by a uniformly diffused light, also illuminatingsaid drawings by a light from the front, and photographing saiddrawings.

3. The process of photographing moving picture drawings which consistsin supporting a background representation and a superimposed translucentmember bearing a complementary drawing before a camera, illuminatingsaid background representation and translucent member by a uniformlydilfused light from the rear, illuminating the translucent member fromthe front to render it transparent, and photographing said backgroundrepresentation and its complementary drawing.

a. ln a device for photographing on cinematograph films, means forsupporting drawings in front of a camera, and a source of uniformlydiffused light positioned to illuminate drawings from the rear of thelatter.

5. ln a device for photographing on cinematograph films, means forsupporting` drawings in front of a camera., a source of uniformlydiffused light positioned to illuminate drawings from the rear side ofthe latter, and another source of light opposed to the diffused lightpositioned to illuminate the front side of drawings.

6. In a device for photographing on cinematograph lms, a drawing supporthaving a. light diffusing member.

7. In a device for photographing, a drawing support having a lightdiffusing member, ay source of light under said mem.- ber, and a lampmounted over said member.

8. In a device for photographing, a drawing support, an under lamp, anupper lamp, and means interposed between the lamps for uniformlydiffusing the rays oi' the light from the under lamp.

9. In a device for` photographing, a. support, a table mounted on thesupport and having an opening therein, a. translucent plate covering theopening of the table, a lamp mounted under theplate and illuminating thesame, a. source of light over said plate, and a camera. carrier mountedon the support.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

CHARLES L. SUDMANN.

